Had a close call with a dryer vent in a basement apartment last month

I was on a call for a noisy dryer in a small basement unit over in the east side. The vent run was a mess of crushed foil duct and went way too long, maybe 25 feet. I got the dryer pulled out and was about to start when I noticed the smell, like burnt dust and lint. The whole vent pipe behind the dryer was hot to the touch. The landlord had been running it like that for who knows how long. Now I carry a cheap laser thermometer in my bag and check the vent temp before I even unplug the unit. Has anyone else started adding this to their initial check after a scare?

4 comments

4 Comments

viola_garcia5624d ago

Kai's point about checks getting ignored is true, but that manual from my old boss actually saved me once. It had a whole section on pre-inspection for heat and blockages. Sometimes the book does stick with you, not just the close calls.

gracej992mo ago

Wow, that's a scary but smart way to learn.

the_hayden2mo ago

My old boss used to say you remember the lesson from a near miss ten times longer than from a manual.

kai_foster2mo ago

It's wild how many basic safety checks just get ignored until something almost goes wrong.